Sheldon Greene's previous books, "Lost and Found"
and "Burnt Umber" have been recognized as well done in the
literary community. He has written a total of 8 novels. Greene is a good
story teller and "Prodigal Sons" continues to display his
talent.

This story of a young man starts with a tale of retribution against
Nazis who have slipped under the radar of the criminal justice system.
Horst Vogel a/k/a Jan Goldberg dispatches a former Nazi with cool
efficiency by garroting him with a wire around his neck. Thus begins an
absorbing post-war story of 1950 in Munich, West Germany. Based upon
fact, this historical novel recreates a scenario which could have taken
place in Poland, Israel, and Germany. His research depicts real events
which he has fictionalized.

Entanglements and suspense are woven into an exciting page-turner.
Saddened with the loss of his family, Jan Goldberg embarks upon a
mission which leads him into becoming a resistance fighter in his native
Poland during World War II. He becomes part of the underground, living
in a cavern dug out in the forest near Lodz, Poland; he carries out his
mission of saving Jews and killing Germans with zeal.

When the war ends, his home life no longer exists in Poland. His
mother, father and sister have been killed by the Nazis. Jan is easily
recruited by Hagganah agents to live on a Kibbutz in Israel. He is
trained to be an assassin and is sent to Germany using the fake identity
of Horst Vogel, a former soldier in the German Army.

Jan/Horst falls in love with Greta, a Christian German citizen, and
a virtuoso pianist. Their love leads to more involvement in the Munich
community than Horst could have imagined. His work as a curator in a
museum enables him to accomplish his primary mission of assassinating
former Nazis. Jan's relationship with Greta provides an added bonus
as he discovers a cache of Nazi gold hidden in a sports club. The theft
of the gold by the Hagganah and love of Greta make this story more
intriguing.

When the book ends, we are left wanting more and author Greene
could easily write another book using the same cast of characters to
complete this saga. "Prodigal Sons" is highly recommended and
will whet your appetite for more.

Clark Isaacs

Reviewer

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